Container for gases and volatile liquids



July 14, C. L. DAY ET AL v CONTAINER FOR GASES AND VOLATILE LIQUIDS Filed Dec. 27, 1927 HI I fl llllu &

Patented July 14, 1931 anna UNETEEDSTA'IEd PATENT QFFECE CLAYTON L. DAY, OF MEI/V YORK, N. L, AND LEW'IS MCDGNALD, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNGES 'IO CIIIGAGG BRIDGE 6; IRON 06., CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS CONTAINER TEQP. AND VOLATILE- LIQUIDS Application filed December 27, 1927.

This invention relates to improvements in containers for gases and volatile liquids, and more especially to such a container adapted to hold the contents under pressure.

One of the features of our invention is the provision of such a container with a sub stantially flat roof and means to counterbalance or counteract the normal internal pressure tending to lift or distort the roof.

Another feature of the invention is a provision for automatic means for relieving the internal gas pressure, said means operating when the pressure exceeds the weight of the counterbalance. In other words, the head of'liquid on the roof used as a counterbalance, and internal gas pressure are automatically balanced.

Other features and advantages of our invention will appear more fully as we proceed with our specification.

In that form of device embodying the features of our invention shown in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, and Fig. 2 is a top plan view with a part of the top broken away.

As shown in the drawings, indicates the usual cylindrical shell or wall of a tank and 11 the bottom.

12 indicates a flat roof, and the upper edge of the shell 10 is extended above the level of the roof as indicated by 10 to form a reservoir on top of the roof 12 for holding the liquid 18 to serve as a counterbalance against normal internal gas pressure inside of the tank. The liquid 13 may, for example, be water in warm climates or brine in colder ones.

It will be seen that, in order to prevent distortion of the roof 12, the internal gas pressure must never exceed the counterbalance afforded by the liquid 13 on top of the roof. It may not be possible or practicable always to maintain the same head of liquid on the roof. Consequently the venting means must be designed to operate at different gas pressures corresponding to different heads of liquid on the roof. This is accomplished by providing a vent pipe 14 having one end 14 in communication with the interior of the container, Such pipe ex,

Serial No. 242,826.

tends upwardly above the level of the liquid 13 and then is bent downwardly so that its other end 1 9 is immersed in the liquid 13. There is preferably provided a cup 15 in the roof and the end. 14 of the vent pipe dips into this cup. It will be seen that by this communication the vent pipe 14 is sealed by the head of liquid 13 on the roof and that the pressure held will vary with such head. In other words, as the amount of liquid 13 on top of the roof is decreased, the highest possible pressure held inside of the tank is accordingly decreased. By providing the cup 15 and extending the end 14 of the pipe 1 1 into. the cup, the weight of the material in the roof itself can be operatively included as part of the counterbalancing weight and also the rafters or framing if attached to the roof.

The rafters or framing just referred to may include the rafters 16 suitably supported on posts 17 and, if desired, the rafters may be attached to the roof 12 and will then not only support the roof and water when there is no internal gas pressure, but will also assist the weight of the water in counterbalancing internal gas pressure thus permitting the use of less water.

18 indicates a vacuum relief of any usual construction that may be employed, if desired, to relieve undue vacuum.

While we have shown and described certain embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is our intention to claim all novelty in our invention as broadly as possible in view of the prior art.

What We claim is new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A container adapted to hold a gas or volatile liquid under pressure having a substantially flat roof; a liquid on the roof, the weight of said liquid operating to counterbalance the internal gas pressure against said roof; a cup depressed in said roof, said 19 l being ed w th liquid n .said

roof; and automatic means for relieving the internal gas pressure when the same exceeds the counterbalancing effect of the liquid, said means including a vent pipe having one end in communication with the interior of the container, said vent pipe extending upwardly above the level of the liquid on the roof, and then bent downwardly with its other end immersed in the liquid in the cup in the roof.

2. A container adapted to hold a gas or volatile liquid under pressure having a substantially flat stationary roof, said roof adapted to hold liquid thereonvariable in amount, the weight of sail liquid. operating to counterbalance the internal gas pressure against said roof; and means for automatically relieving the iternal gas pressure when the same exceeds the counterhalancing effect of said liquid, regardless of the amount of liquid on the roof.

3. A container adapted to hold a gas or volatile liquid under pressure having a substantially flat stationary root, said roof adapted'to hold liquid thereon variable in amount, the weight of said liquid operating to counterbalance the internal gas pressure against said roof; and means for automatically relieving the internal gas pressure when the same exceeds the counterbalancing effect or" said liquid, regardless of the amount of liquid on the roof, saidmeans including a vent pipe having one end in communication with the interior of the container, said vent pipe extending upwardly above the level of the liquid on the roof, and then bent downwardly with its other end immersed in said liquid.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and aflixed our seals, this 12th day of December, 1927.

CLAYTON L. DAY. LEWIS MCDONALD. 

